Was I being unrealistic expecting a leather handbag to last more than 18 months?

[naturelover]

I bought a large leather bag from Pia 18 months ago and have used it daily (am SAHM). The colour has worn off the edges, the silvery metal bits have gone copper and now a screw has dropped out of the fastener.

Basically it looks very scruffy and I feel so disappointed.

I asked in the shop about getting dye to redye the edges that have lost their colour and they said they don't stock anything. I think it would be a hard colour to match (greyish blue).

I hold out little hope of finding a replacement screw.

I spent £75 in the sale on this bag and really hoped for a longer lifespan.

The leather is good quality on the whole, but I don't feel I can use the bag now.

WWYD?

I don't find that bags that I use every day last that long either but I am a bit rough with them. Not sure that you can do anything I'm afraid.

I'm considering a Lonchamp Le Pliage nylon bag for my next everyday bag. Any idea if they are hardwearing or not? At £48 for the small one I would be happy to get a year out of it I reckon.

It sounds like it was a poor quality bag. You aren't being unrealistic to have expected it to last longer if it was £75 in the sale though. I have a Mimi Berry satchel I've used most days for 2 years (admittedly it cost a more than £75, even in the sale) and the leather is getting nicer with wear, not scruffier. The silvery metal bits on cheaper bags always look bad after a while, unless they're really good quality - I think it's best to go for an everyday bag with minimal hardware, or with that aged-looking coppery hardware that won't change colour.

I am a bit biased re: Le Pliage (have loads) but my black large one has been used daily since Feb 2010 and is still going strong. It can carry really heavy weights that I'd never put in a leather bag, too.

YANBU
I'd expect 3 plus years life off a real leather bag, I use every day. Normally the zips give out.

By JL £75 one will last longer than that as I'm a SAHM and some days it stays in the hall.

If it was £75 in the sale, then it was clearly not a cheap bag and it ought to last longer than it has.

You shouldn't have to spend hundreds on a bag for it to last a couple of years.

Motioncity can I ask if you have only dark-coloured Longchamp bags? I have fallen in love with a pale blue one on ebay but I'm guessing there's no easy way to wash it and it will get grubby!

i would expwxt it to last longer.my mulb bag that has been uaed veey regularly and not babied is still going strong.

It should most certainly last longer. Unless it's a bag made with delicate leather and so on - but then you should have been told that it's not a bag for every day use.

The old Mulberry bags would last a lifetime, the new ones are terrible quality (the leather is thin and wears through, gets discoloured, the metal bits get discoloured) - I would in no way recommend getting anything from there. I have several bags from there which I can't use, and many friends have the same experience. And the service to get the bags repaired is honestly not very good. Better to go somewhere else!

Le Pliage are pretty good. I have have a couple, and they do get a bit worn in the bottom corners. One is white, and it's dirty (dog jumped up on it with dirty paws) - and the stains will not come out. The other is multicoloured, and it looks fine other than the wear in the corners.

I recently bought a leather bag from Debenhams in the sale, not cheap but a good reduction. When one of the handles came unsewn within a month I got an apology and a refund - would have been very cross if nothing offered as compensation.

naturelover, I've only got experience of dark ones (black, brown, dark purple, navy, dark green, slate grey) so I'm not sure. White or yellow would definitely mark and start to look grotty, but light blue might be a bit hardier.